It’s a consistent highly inefficient heat because it only smoulders, without a flame.

It will clog your chimney/flue with creosote.

It’s also a horrible thing to do to yourself and your neighbours.

No efficient wood heater/stove is designed to burn like that.

If you want a slow release of heat you need to store it in masonry or water.

Masonry heater or don’t even bother.

It’s barely practical to run a typical modern Australian wood heater efficiently because they can’t store the heat of a blazing hot efficient smokeless burn.

Yep, need to get a hot blazing burn then it’s fairly clean (and efficient). Smaller wood is better – just keep loading it in.

Trouble is, no one ever listens. They throw on massive logs then crank the airflow right down for the lovely slow burn through the evening, then wedge in the biggest piece they can find and close the airflow “so it’s still burning in the morning” (*smouldering).

Catches the train and supports other principled causes: